‘Settle down, champ’: Brad Fittler roasted over Panthers dressing room act

Penrith’s dressing room was the place to be after the team’s grand final win, and an NRL great couldn’t resist joining the celebrations.

No one enjoyed Penrith’s NRL Grand Final win more than Brad Fittler.

The Panthers defeated the Melbourne Storm 14-6 to clinch their fourth consecutive premiership, and a sixth in club history.

The victory cements Penrith as the greatest team of the NRL era and puts this Panthers outfit right alongside the most successful teams in rugby league history.

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It was utter jubilation post-game as the Panthers celebrated after extending their astonishing NRL dynasty.

Fittler was on the sideline for the game as part of Nine’s commentary team, but he momentarily forgot he was on the clock as he soaked up the glory in the Penrith sheds.

Cameras spotted Fittler sitting on a chair in the Panthers dressing room having a chat to Clive Churchill medallist Liam Martin, with a Tooheys New beer in hand.

The rest of the commentary team couldn’t believe their eyes and had a giggle at Fittler’s expense.

You can watch the hilarious moment in the video above

Fittler making himself at home in the Penrith circle. Photo: Nine.

Host James Bracey: “We’ve been wondering where Freddy’s been to do his interviews. (He’s) chewing Liam’s ear off.”

Paul Gallen: “Look at him! He hasn’t even got a microphone in his hand, he’s got a beer!

“Have a go at him!”

Darren Lockyer: “Swapped the microphone for a Tooheys. He’d be telling stories about him back in the day”.

Cameron Smith joked Fittler would be telling Martin about his win “back in ‘91”, while Bracey joked his colleague would be telling Martin his glory came “before you were born, son”.

Smith quipped: “Is he going to be able to put two words together?

Gallen laughed: “They will have him covered. They just won four premierships straight. Settle down, champ.”

Bracey concluded: “Hopefully riveting interviews from that coming soon.”

“Four in a row,” Fittler later said to camera, showing the commemorative beer bottle. “It says it on the beer. They’ve earned it.”

Penrith prop Moses Leota with his daughters. Photo: Nine.

Fittler did eventually find a microphone and had a chat to Panthers players Liam Martin, Moses Leota, Lindsay Smith and Liam Henry.

He complimented Martin on his performance and hair, before chatting to Leota, who was sitting with his two daughters.

They were wearing goggles used for the celebratory champagne showers, and Fittler asked: “How did daddy go.”

Leota’s two daughters both replied: “Good.”

Fittler kept doing the rounds of the sheds and found Olympic champion Jess Fox, who is a Penrith local and diehard Panthers fan.

Fittler had an awkward moment with Fox and her sister Noemie earlier in the season that saw him come under fire for a comment on the broadcast at a Panthers home game.

“Jess, can you take that, you can have that,” he said, offering Fox the beer.

“Um, nah, nah,” she awkwardly replied with a laugh.

Fittler: “I’m still working. Did you have a good night?”

Fox: “Amazing. It’s so special to be here and celebrate. It’s wonderful for Penrith and stoked for the whole team.”

Fittler: “Will Penrith be pumping or what?”

Fox: “Absolutely. I can’t imagine what it’s like at the moment.”

“Great to see you,” Fittler signed off with.

Jess Fox wanted no part of Freddy’s Tooheys beer. Photo: Nine.

Brad Fittler interviewing Jess Fox. Photo: Nine.

The Bunker’s no try call on Melbourne’s Jack Howarth was the talking point of the game, with viewers adamant Howarth got the ball down.

But reporters revealed post-game the NRL had shown them unseen footage that clearly proved Howarth didn’t ground the ball.

It will be party time for the Panthers, who became the third team in first-grade rugby league history to win four titles in a row since the St George Dragons (1956-1966) and the South Sydney Rabbitohs (1925-1929) to achieve the feat.

Ivan Cleary became the first coach since Dragons Immortal Norm Provan to win four grand finals in a row.

Jarome Luai was glowing in his praise for the Panthers, as he finishes on a high with four premiership rings before heading to the lowly Wests Tigers next year.

Prop James Fisher-Harris is joining the New Zealand Warriors and winger Sunia Turuva is also on his way to the Tigers.

Originally published as ‘Settle down, champ’: Brad Fittler roasted over Panthers dressing room act